The Importance Of Pain Assessment

In nurse’s perspective, the poor and inconsistent of pain assessment can lead to unrelieved pain and reduce patient mobility, resulting in complications such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, and pneumonia (Ed. Caltorn, 1997). Postsurgical complications related to inadequate pain management will affect the length of hospitalization; the risk of readmissions, and increase the cost care of treatment. Somehow, a poor documentation of current status pain assessment will delay the intervention and responses to the care plan (Gordon, 2005). Thus, to overcome this situation in clinical practice, The American Pain Society (2005), created the phrase “Pain: the fifth vital sign” to increased awareness of the important in pain management

Besides that, the requirements of this policy need to be emphasized to all the health care professionals. Firstly, all new trained regardless doctors or nurses are compulsory to attend pain educational programme to improve their knowledge and skills in assessing pain (Magda A., 2013). Multiple studies show that many health care professionals lack of knowledge and skills to manage pain effectively (Brunier et. al, 1995; Drayer et. al, 1999; Gibbs, 1995). Because of this, their failed to assess the pain during patient self-report and give an appropriate treatment. Thus, inadequate pain management will affect the quality of life and also creates a financial burden on health care system such as longer hospitalization and readmission (Grant et. al, 1995; Sheehan et. al, 1996). According to data from Robert Wood Johnson (1995) showed a high incidence of uncontrolled pain among adult patient with the result of 74% to 95% are dying

In response to safety concerns, these draft standards are emphasize that pain is one of the vital sign and should assess in all patients. Therefore, the element of non-maleficent, beneficence, soft skill and caring component in providing care includes in this current standard (Beauchamp & Childress, 2008). For example, the patient have a right to receive an appropriate care with a trust that will not cause them harm even if some pain and suffering is involved. Beneficence is another nursing ethic that should apply in pain intervention such as holding a patient’s hand during a painful procedure and give an emotion support throughout the process. Meanwhile, healthcare providers should listen and respond immediately to patient’s report of pain and manage pain appropriately. A part of it, all hospital staff should be continually educated and aware about pain assessment and management. Thus, standardizes pain assessment tools must be applied consistently with accurate documentation in vital sign charting and carried out nursing intervention effectively. Consequently, the improvement of implementation pain 5th vital sign shows that nursing actions depending on the pain score. Hence, these standards required nurses to refer Pain Flow Chart in order to response pain score assessment as documented in Pain Free Hospital